Former Home Minister P. Chidambaram revealed that immediately after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the Indian Army was ready to retaliate against Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi accused the Congress of stopping the decision under foreign pressure and demanded a clear answer. This statement has raised new questions about national security.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has bly reacted to the recent statements by Congress veteran and former Home Minister P. Chidambaram. Chidambaram had claimed in an interview that immediately after the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, the Indian Army was ready for retaliatory action against Pakistan. However, this plan was reportedly halted due to some foreign pressure. This revelation has raised serious questions about national security and the decision-making process.
Modi stated that the 26/11 attacks were a major challenge not only for Mumbai but for the entire country. Mumbai, often referred to as India's economic powerhouse and one of its most vibrant cities, was deliberately targeted by terrorists. The objective was not just to damage the city, but to attack the heart of the nation. The Prime Minister added that this attack seriously challenged India's national security.
Modi's Accusation Against Congress
The Prime Minister criticized the then Congress-led government, stating that the government sent a “message of weakness” and failed to take decisive action. Modi argued that the army was ready to attack Pakistan, but this plan was halted due to foreign pressure and diplomatic reasons. He stated that this is a serious matter not only from a security perspective but also from the perspective of the sentiments of the countrymen and national dignity.
Modi clarified that Chidambaram's revelation has posed the question to the country: who was making decisions under foreign pressure and on what grounds. He demanded that the Congress clearly state which country and which individual influenced our national security decisions at that time.
Army's Preparations
The Prime Minister stated that at the time of the 26/11 attacks, the Indian Army was fully prepared. The army had planned to carry out precise and decisive attacks on Pakistani targets. But according to Chidambaram, this step was postponed due to pressure from another country. Modi said that this decision is not only alarming from a security perspective but also shows that the then government was not sensitive to national security and the sentiments of the countrymen.
He further added that by ignoring the army's readiness and the demands of the countrymen, the Congress took a decision that sent a message to terrorists that India is weak in decision-making. Modi stated that the impact of this decision was not limited to that time but had long-term consequences for national security.
Impact of Foreign Pressure on National Security
Modi also said that if foreign pressure can so easily influence India's security decisions, it raises questions about the country's sovereignty and its capacity for national decision-making. He demanded a clear answer from the Congress on who and why the army was stopped from attacking Pakistan. Modi stated that the country deserves to know when and how foreign intervention occurred in matters of national security.
Modi also pointed out that the 26/11 attacks were an attempt to spread fear and outrage not only in Mumbai but across the entire country. He stated that suppressing the sentiments of the countrymen and the reaction against terrorism was a grave mistake. Many innocent civilians lost their lives in this attack, and the country suffered heavy economic and social damage.
